In this episode, I sit down with investor and coach Chad Harris to unpack how he built a thriving buy-and-hold real estate portfolio—without using banks or his own money. Chad shares how a personal family crisis led him to pivot from being a missionary in Kenya to building a rental empire back home in Dayton, Ohio.

We talk about how he leveraged his fundraising background to raise private capital, what most new investors get wrong about deal analysis and funding, and how systematizing his business gave him not just profits—but real freedom. Whether you're just curious about rentals or looking to scale without losing control, Chad's story is proof that with commitment and the right tools, anyone can do it.

Episode Highlights

[0:00] – Introduction

[1:06] – Chad's journey from teacher and missionary to real estate investor

[5:51] – Facing a family emergency and the realization he had to become a better provider

[7:24] – How he built his rental portfolio from scratch using private lenders—not banks

[10:04] – The simple elevator pitch Chad used to attract investor capital

[13:12] – His coaching focus: helping others buy rentals with no money down

[16:05] – The 3 biggest sticking points for new buy-and-hold investors

[21:23] – Why a system for property management is more important than door count

[24:15] – The painful lessons learned from outsourcing management too soon

[25:30] – How Chad runs lean by hiring local part-time help for operations

[28:45] – Systems as an investment: scaling for time freedom, not just portfolio growth

[30:37] – Chad's advice for anyone who's curious about getting started

5 Key Takeaways

1. You don't need bank financing to build a rental portfolio—private capital is out there.
2. Start with a professional management system from day one—even if you only have 3 doors.
3. Most investors underestimate the importance of deal analysis and overestimate local competition.
4. CRMs and property management tools are not expenses—they're time-saving investments.
5. If you stay committed, time and compound cash flow will do the rest.

If this episode helped you rethink how to get started—or scale—with buy-and-hold investing, don't forget to rate, follow, and leave a review. And share this episode with someone who's been sitting on the fence about becoming a landlord.